The Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton School Board is set to meet this evening in the conference room at the Elk Horn building. Their session starts at 6-p.m. Included among the items on their agenda, is a Public Hearing on a Budget Amendment, followed later on in the meeting by approval of a 2017-18 Budget Amendment. Other discussion and action items include: 2018-19 fees; approval of…a carpeting bid for the Elk Horn building, a contract with IWCC for concurrent courses, a new Junior High/High School grading scale, a bid for a school car (Buick), and approval of personnel matters – to include hires, transfers, resignations, etc.

Iowa’s governor, the state agriculture secretary and the leaders of 11 state ag groups are sending a letter to President Trump, urging him to resolve the trade dispute with China. Bill Shipley of Nodaway, president of the Iowa Soybean Association, says the trade war caused by the U-S tariffs imposed on Chinese steel and aluminum must be ended — and soon. “They need to get the issues resolved and work hard at it, not just sit around and twiddle their thumbs for a couple of weeks,” Shipley says. “Farming is a time-dependent industry compared to a lot of things. Find your markets. Work on them. Don’t sit around and wait for things to happen. You have to be proactive.”

Shipley says one-third of the state’s five-billion dollar soybean crop is exported to China and Iowa farmers can’t afford to lose that market. “Iowa would be the hardest-hit state with these tariffs going into effect on ag of any state in the nation,” Shipley says. “Our income’s been cut 40 to 50% in the last six years. Can you name any other industry that’s had their income cut that much — and still, we’re out here doing it?” Shipley says it’s taken decades to nurture a trade relationship with the Chinese and he notes, both nations benefit from the partnership. “We worked so hard to build the Chinese market,” Shipley says. “Thirty-five years ago, they didn’t buy any soybeans. Now, 40% of their usage comes from the United States. That’s a huge change. It’s a market we need and they need us. They need soybeans to feed their livestock and feed their people.”

In the letter to the president, the Iowa group says the state’s citizens and economy depend on having a quick resolution to the trade dispute.

(Radio Iowa)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Iowa native Maddie Poppe has won “American Idol.” The singer-songwriter bested Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Gabby Barrett in Monday night’s two-hour finale on ABC. Poppe and Hutchinson announced on the program that they’re dating, surprising judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. They then performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Poppe called the experience incredible.

Maddie Poppe ABC (file) Photo

Hutchinson took to Twitter to congratulate Poppe. The three judges performed during the finale along with Patti LaBelle, Nick Jonas and Mustard, Bebe Rexha, Darius Rucker, Gary Clark Jr., Yolanda Adams and Kermit the Frog.

SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) — A Louisiana man has been given five years in prison for injuring a bicyclist who was camping after a ride in Iowa. Court records say Danny Cardin, of Homer Louisiana, was sentenced Monday in Fremont County Courthouse in Sidney. He’d been found guilty of causing serious injury by vehicle but not guilty of leaving the scene of a serious injury accident.

An Iowa State Patrol report says James Foley, of Jacksonville, Florida, was sleeping in a tent at the 59er Motel & Campgrounds in Shenandoah on the night of July 17, 2016, when Cardin’s pickup went off the driveway and struck the tent and him. Cardin’s attorney has said the incident was an accident.

Foley had been participating in a statewide biking event known as RAGBRAI.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says an 11-year old was arrested over the Noon hour Monday, at the Enarson Elementary School in Villisca. The unidentified juvenile was charged with three counts of simple assault following an incident where the juvenile allegedly assaulted staff and another student. The 11-year old was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, processed and then released to the custody of their parent.

And, Red Oak Police report 24-year old Ozzy Ray Hunter, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 3:30-p.m., Monday, for Driving While Barred. Hunter was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic candidate for governor has topped Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in fundraising by giving $2.1 million to his own campaign. Fundraising records released Monday show businessman Fred Hubbell, the perceived front-runner among a field of six Democrats, raised about $3 million so far in 2018. Reynolds raised about $1.2 million. She has more than $4.2 million available to spend. Hubbell has about $248,000 available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state agency has selected a private insurance company to join two others in providing health coverage under Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program. The Iowa Department of Human Services confirmed Monday that Iowa Total Care, a wholly-owned subsidiary of St. Louis-based Centene, will provide coverage beginning in July 2019. Agency spokesman Matt Highland says the company will undergo a readiness review over the next year and more information will become available later.

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — The Waukee school district has reached another settlement with an employee who filed a lawsuit claiming he was forced to resign after reporting improper conduct by the chief operating officer. The Des Moines Register reports the district on Monday paid a $175,000 settlement to Nicholas Bavas, who resigned as operations manager. He filed a lawsuit in June, claiming he was forced to quit after reporting conduct to investigators by chief operating officer Eric Rose.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo man accused of firing a shot at a police officer has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a firearms charge. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 23-year-old Miquelle Miller was sentenced Monday to 10 years without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty in October to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon.

An Iowa woman is now charged in connection with a South Carolina kidnapping case. William and Jessica Ray were arrested last Thursday in Winneshiek County after the sheriff’s office received a tip that the couple was spotted at the Decorah Walmart. The Rays were wanted for taking their daughter from Camden, South Carolina on April 15. They do NOT have custody of the two-year-old child.

Authorities say the Rays had been staying with 56-year-old Tami Linne at her home in Bluffton for three weeks. Linne is accused of helping hide the couple and the toddler. She’s now charged with accessory to a felony.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Seth Staashelm, Monday, told the Parks and Rec Board, that with regard to the Schildberg Recreation Area campsite availability for this upcoming Memorial Day Holiday, “We’re gonna be booked-up this weekend.” Staashelm said there are three open spots, but two of those are already reserved, with the remaining spot available on a first-come, first-served basis.

He said all sites at the campground this year are on the same basis. Many of the sites are already in use by crews working at the Elite Octane Ethanol site, and Seth says “It feels like they’re bringing more people in, so I don’t know when they’re gonna be done out there.” Board member John Krogman said the completion date keeps getting pushed back, and Staashelm said it appears they may be there through the summer, which puts a crimp on persons wishing to camp for recreation.

That’s the only drawback to having construction crews camp at Schildberg. On the plus side, their use of the site has brought in much more money than the City ever expected, to the tune of $58,000 already, when it was optimistically estimated at the onset, only $700 would be generated. And, even though the Parks Department is over budget on municipal water, electric and garbage removal, Seth says “Our percentage is huge right now. As much as I like having the income come in it’s gonna be nice when they’re all out of there and we can maintain the place and make everything look nice.” That includes grading the ruts out, spraying, reseeding and other necessary maintenance.

Staashelm said also, the Grand Opening for the Sunnyside Pool is 1-p.m. Saturday, May 26th, and the Sunnyside Park Block Party takes place June 1st, from 5-until 9-p.m., at the Kiddie Korral. Local organizations including the ARISE, Kiwanis, Lions Club and 1st Church of Christ are helping out for the event. Free hot dogs will be available, along with 150 free cotton candy’s to tie-in with Atlantic’s 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial). And, movies in the park will be held at the Kiddie Korral June 8th (“The Lion King”) and July 11th (“Coco”), with activities at 7-p.m. and the movie at 8:30-p.m.  On August 17th, the movie will take place in the Shelter at the Schildberg Recreation Area, with a showing of “Jumanji.” Local groups, Royal Neighbors, Atlantic Rising and Megan Roberts State Farm are helping run the events, with free popcorn being served. All shows are free and fun for the family to enjoy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state agency has selected a private insurance company to join two others in providing health coverage under Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program. The Iowa Department of Human Services confirmed Monday that Iowa Total Care, a wholly owned subsidiary of St. Louis-based Centene, will provide coverage beginning in July 2019.

Centene attempted in an earlier bidding process to participate in Iowa’s Medicaid program but was not selected. Agency spokesman Matt Highland says the company will undergo a readiness review over the next year and more information will become available later.

Iowa privatized its Medicaid program, which provides health care to the poor and disabled, in 2016. The program was initially run by three companies until one dropped out last year.

The other companies providing Medicaid coverage are UnitedHealthcare and Amerigroup. Some patients and health care providers have reported reduced and delayed services under the privatized system.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic candidate for governor has topped Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in fundraising by giving $2.1 million to his own campaign. Fundraising records released Monday show businessman Fred Hubbell, the perceived front-runner among a field of six Democrats, raised about $3 million so far in 2018. Reynolds, the only Republican seeking her party’s nomination, raised about $1.2 million.

Reynolds has more than $4.2 million available to spend. Hubbell has about $248,000 available. Democrat Cathy Glasson, a union organizer, raised nearly $600,000 in large part to a donation by Service Employees International Union. Democrat Sen. Nate Boulton brought in about $500,000.

The other three Democrats raised significantly less. Former party chairwoman Andy McGuire raised about $270,000, while former party chairman John Norris collected about $235,000. Former Iowa City mayor Ross Wilburn raised about $6,400, and his campaign owes $515.